| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe: safely, and these often suffered and were infected on board as much as
on shore.
As the richer sort got into ships, so the lower rank got into hoys,
smacks, lighters, and fishing-boats; and many, especially watermen,
lay in their boats; but those made sad work of it, especially the latter,
for, going about for provision, and perhaps to get their subsistence, the
infection got in among them and made a fearful havoc; many of the
watermen died alone in their wherries as they rid at their roads, as
well as above bridge as below, and were not found sometimes till they
were not in condition for anybody to touch or come near them.
Indeed, the distress of the people at this seafaring end of the town
A Journal of the Plague Year |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: Where are you stopping? Have you got a good place?"
"I don't know where mamma is," answered Minna. "We got
separated, and I never have been able to find her again."
Meanwhile, Presley had been taking in with a quick eye the
details of Minna's silk dress, with its garniture of lace, its
edging of velvet, its silver belt-buckle. Her hair was arranged
in a new way and on her head was a wide hat with a flare to one
side, set off with a gilt buckle and a puff of bright blue plush.
He glanced at her sharply.
"Well, but--but how are you getting on?" he demanded.
Minna laughed scornfully.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from U. S. Project Trinity Report by Carl Maag and Steve Rohrer: classified and unclassified documents containing information on the
participation of personnel from the MED, which supervised Project
TRINITY, and from the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL), which
developed the TRINITY device. After this initial effort, researchers
recorded relevant information concerning the activities of MED and
LASL personnel and catalogued the data sources. Many of the documents
pertaining specifically to MED and LASL participation were found in
the Defense Nuclear Agency Technical Library and the LASL Records
Center.
Information on the fallout pattern, meteorological conditions, and
nuclear cloud dimensions is taken from Volume 1 of the General
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: hall; then she let herself out of the house and hobbled down the
steps, supporting herself on the cast-iron railing.
"My goodness," exclaimed Mrs. Black, shutting and bolting the
hall-door, "I never knew the old woman was crazy! And she looks
so quiet and ladylike, too."
Mrs. Manstey slept well that night, but early the next morning
she was awakened by a sound of hammering. She got to her window
with what haste she might and, looking out saw that Mrs. Black's
yard was full of workmen. Some were carrying loads of brick from
the kitchen to the yard, others beginning to demolish the old-
fashioned wooden balcony which adorned each story of Mrs. Black's
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